How come fashion has continued to grow as an industry without any formal copyright protection? Admittedly, it doesn’t have any direct digital competition as yet (but I’m sure it will: someone will be working on an in-home robotic sewing machine which will rely on digital patterns).
Given that knockoffs can be produced to order in places where no writ runs, and the general unenforceabilty of copyright (as opposed to IP in the original design) I’m not surprised. Besides, I gather that imitation can be treated as a form of advertising of the original product or brand.
I can’t see fashion copyright as a high priority in law somehow given contending areas for legal attention. You reckon?
I guess I was wondering how the fashion industry continues to grow in the face of no copyright where other industries (notably music) complain about copyright all the time. There could be lessons to be learned, I feel.